Research

The Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery and Islet Cell Transplantation has one of the most productive research laboratories at UC Irvine Medical Center, exploring novel therapies for both pancreatic and liver cancer. The laboratory also strongly supports research affiliated with the campus in Irvine with numerous fellowships and awards given to its members, including the Excellence in Research Award and the 2002 Chancellors Award given to the best researcher in the School of Medicine. More than 20 papers have been published by the laboratory over the past five years. 

Recently, the division received a grant supported by the North American Foundation for the Cure of Diabetes to begin studying surgical transplantation of human islet cells for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. UC Irvine is currently awaiting approval for the Phase 1 clinical study before enrolling patients.

In addition, there are a number of clinical trials currently being conducted for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. The team works with oncology, radiation oncology, gastroenterology, pharmacy and interventional radiology on the following studies:

• TNFerade biologic in combination with radiation for unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer
• Gene vaccine in combination with gemcitibine for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer
• HyperAcute vaccine in combination with gemcitibine and radiation therapy for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer
• Combination of neoadjuvant gemcitibine and erlotinib for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, followed with the same combination post-operatively
• Comparison of Sorafenib vs. Sutent for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
• TheraSphere in combination with Sorafenib for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

For more information about hepatobiliary and pancreas research and the clinical trials being conducted, please contact the division at 714.456.3884.